Switch assembly having self-supporting structure to simplify interfit of component parts



May 18, 1965 3,184,572

' swn'cu ASSEMBLY HAVING SELF-SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 'ro SIHPLIFY INTERFI'I OF couronasr PARTS Filed Oct. 19. 1961 2 ShGGtB-ShBflt 1 I FINVENTOR. Wflsen was 2 Fig.2 BY

May 18, 1965 w. H. WEST ,184,

SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING SELF-SUPPORTING STRUCTURE T0 SIMPLIFY INTERFIT 0F COMPONENT PARTS Filed Oct. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR. F] 5 Wilson H. West His A iforney United States Patent 3,184,572 SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING SELF-SUPPGRTKNG STRUCTURE T0 SIMELEFY ENTERFIT G1 39M- PONENT PARTS Wilson H. West, Madison Heights, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 146,1d1 Claims. (fill. 289-159) This invention relates to an electrical assembly, and, particularly, to a device having a unique interfit of component parts for making and breaking an electrical circuit connection.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved switch assembly inexpensive to produce yet having self-supporting structure to simplify interfit of component parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly having a panel-mountable base portion apertured to receive and permit reciprocable movement of a plunger-like actuator of insulating material on which a spring means for biasing support and aligning at opposite ends is carried together with a spade terminal means engageable against one end of the spring means to establish electrical connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switching device mounted on an apertured support such as a door jamb, compartment frame and the like adjacent to a pivotable cover or closure means having a path of movement to engage one end of a reciprocable plungerlike non-conducting actuator member formed to fit through an apertured metal mounting portion to which one end of bowed spring means is held in a location intermediate length of the actuator member and having an opposite end of the bowed spring means engage an end of the actuator member in a location remote from that end engageable by the cover or closure means, and having a laterally projecting spade terminal means carried by one end thereof directly on the actuator member in a position between ends of the bowed spring means which biases the terminal means into electrical engagement with the one end of the spring means and metal mounting portion while the spring means maintains both biasing, support as well as alignment of the actuator member for proper reciprocal movement through the metal mounting portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly including an apertured metal mounting portion to fit a vehicle support adjacent to a pivotally mounted door, cover or closure means and engageable against a freely projecting end of a reciprocable plunger-like actuator member of insulating material, the assembly further including a laterally projecting spade or male terminal means carried directly by the actuator member and adapted to fit complementary to a female terminal means for electrical energization as well as including a flat metal spring means generally L-shaped in configuration though specifically having a substantially U-shaped portion thereof extending from one side of the actuator member in a direction opposite to that in which the spade terminal means extends and having free ends of the spring means straddling the actuator member so as to have the spade terminal means carried reciprocably therebetween while the spring means provides biasing support and alignment for the whole switch assembly including the actuator member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ground switch device having an interfit oi: components including a conducting mounting portion apertured to permit reciprocable movement of an insulating plunger or actuator membet on which opposite ends of a fiat spring means are carried for support and alignment thereof in path of movement substantially transverse to the mounting portion electrically energizable by way of a male or spade terminal means carried by the insulating member in a location intermediate ends of the spring means which, in effect, carries the whole switch.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from he following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown. 1

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a switch device having components in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a switch assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the switch of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectioned elevational view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectioned transverse view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 4.

Manufacturers strive with a constant etiort to produce a quality product at a lower cost and accordingly, the switch assembly of the present invention can provide features particularly adapted for large scale usage. Many diifering switch structures have been devised requiring a complexity of components often difficult to assemble and produce, particularly in large volume. A unique interiit of component parts for making and breaking an electric circuit connection can be realized by use of the structures illustrated in the drawings to which reference is made in the following description.

FIGURE 1 provides a perspective view of a switch device generally indicated by numeral 10 and provided with a base or mounting portion 11 having tabs or spring arms 32 carried thereby to fit resiliently in engagement with a peripheral edge of an apertured support such as a door jamb, compartment frame and the like. The base or mounting portion 11 can be apertured centrally to receive and permit reciprocable movement of a plunger-like actuator of insulating material indicated by numeral 14 and having a rounded end thereof adapted for engagement by a cover, pivotal member or door means so as to impart a simplified sliding action to this actuator 14 relative to the base portion 11 on one side of which necessary components or parts are properly aligned and supported. These components or parts can include specifically. a spring means 15 having a substantially L-shape with one end 16 thereof adapted to abut against one side of the base portion 11 at a location substantially intermediate the length of the plunger-like actuator of insulating material which includes an integral projection 27 against which a free end 28 of the spring means fits so as to have an aperture of this free end 28 of the spring means 15 axially aligned with the plunger-like actuator 14. The spring means 15 is made of a flat and resilient metal and includes a substantially U-shaped portion 29 thereof having integral leg portions which can be spread away from each other in response to linear movement of the plungerlike actuator 14. The spring means 15 wholly supports the plunger-like actuator means and simultaneously aligns one end of the plunger-like actuator means relative to the base portion 11 in an axis substantially transverse to the plane of the base portion 11. The end 27 of the actuator 14 extends between ends 16 and 28 of the spring means 15 and a male or spade terminal means 30 has a blade 31 projecting laterally and longitudinally away from the actuator 14 with a bifurcated end 32 of the spade terminal means straddling the end 27 of the actuator member 14 in a location intermediate the ends 16 and 28 of the spring means 15. Adjacent to the bifurcated end 32 of the male or spade terminal means there is an elbow-shaped contact portion 33 engageable against a ground connection or contact by way of the base portion 11 and tabs 12 to a metal support such as a pillar or door jamb of a motor vehicle body of metal. The female terminal and housing means 34 can be modified in any suitable manner and adapted to fit the male or spade terminal means 30 having a blade end portion 31 and an elbow-shaped contact portion 33 as positioned on a reciprocable plunger-like actuator of insulating material supported and'aligned by a flat spring means 15 having a U-shaped loop portion 29'integral therewith as described.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 as well as FIGURE 5 illustrate a switch assembly having details further in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 2 is a top'view of such a switch assembly generally indicated by numeral 40 and including a base portion or escutcheon 41 ,7

provided with a plurality of spring fingers. or tabs 42 adapted resiliently to. engage a peripheral edge of a metal mounting panel or support S outlined in FIGURE 4 and having an aperture A therein. An' eyelet or sleeves like rivet means R visible in FIGURES '3' and 4 can provide an inner peripheral bearing surface alonglwhieh an insulating or non-conducting reciprocable actuator member 44 can move between positions indicated in FIGURE .7

4. A spring means 45 is provided having a substantially male or spade terminal means 76 includes an elbowshaped contact portion 73 adapted to abut against the end 46 of the spring means electrically in engagement with the base portion 41 mounted relative to aperture A of the support S of grounding metal relative to which a cover or .door means '75 can be journalled by a pivot means "76 as indicated in FIGURE 4.

It is to be noted that the flat metal spring means having the U-shaped portion provides for biasing support and alignment of theplunger-like actuator at opposite ends. The plunger-like actuator is wholly supported by the spring means which, in elfect, carries all parts or components of the switch assembly. The switch assembly is adapted for use as a door jamb switch, for example, of

a grounding type wherein the spring for biasing the shift- While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a switch assembly having an unique interfit I of co'mponentparts including an apertured base portion adapted for support such as by a door jamb,-compartment frame and the like as well as including a plunger-like actuator means of insulating material at least partially in complementary mating fit with said base portion though f movable reciprocably as to thejbase portion, improveor generally L-shape or configuration including one free end 46 which is'electrically engaged against the base portion 41 and held therewith by the rivet or eyelet means R. The plunger-like "actuator 44 has a rounded'end 'E remote from a main body portion 43 thereof on anopposite side of the base portion 41 and end 46 of the spring means 45. An arm or leg 49 of the spring means 45 is fitted along one fiat side of the body portion 48 in a location substantially longitudinally in alignment with or parallel to a central axis of the plunger-like actuator 44 and body portion 48 thereof which terminates 'in a projection P engageable by an end 58 of the spring means. A substantially U-shaped loop portion 59 is formed integrally with the spring means 45 in a location intermediate the leg 49 and end 58. The U-shaped loop portion 59'includes first and second leg portions 61 and 62 of flat resilientmetal material adapted to permit flexing of the leg or arm 62 and end 58 integral therewith into positions indicated in the view of FIGURE 4. The leg or arm portion 61 is substantially transverse to the leg portion 49 of the spring means 45 and the flat metal spring means provides support as well as alignment for the plunger-like actuator 44 and integral bodyfportion 48 thereof to assure proper reciprocable movement and to facilitate simplified sliding action of the actuator means relative to the base portion 41 by way of the sleeveslike rivet R.

As can be best seen in the view of FIGURE 5, the bodyportion 48 of the plunger-like actuator 44 is provided with a W-shaped cutout or recess 64 extending transversely thereof from a side opposite to that on which the leg or arm 49 is positioned adjacent to the body portion 48. The W-shaped recess 64 can be formed by the walls of the body portion 48 of insulating material and an integral upwardly extending partition 65 engaged by barbed ends 66 of a bifurcated end portion 67 of a male or spade terminal means 70 having a blade or contact portion 71 projecting from a free end thereof' The ment which comprises a male terminal means having a free blade end forengagement by female terminal means and having integral therewith a bifurcated barbed end to straddle the actuatorjrneans transversely in tightly fixed engagement at a location centrally of the actuator means as well as having an offset elboW-shaped'contact portion in a location intermediate said blade end and said bifurcated barbed end, and a flat'metal spring means looped into a generally L-shaped configuration between opposite ends thereof that fit the actuator means in locations axially on opposite sides of said bifurcated barbed end of said male terminal means, said metal spring means having one end'ag ainst the base portion and having 'multiple purpose in wholly supporting thecomponent parts as well as biasing the actuator means in a predetermined direction carrying said .male terminal means including said offset elbow-shaped contact portion and resiliently maintaining alignment of parts assembled for predetermined intermittent engagement by said offset elbowshaped contact portion against one end of said metal spring means for electrical energization between the base portion and female terminal means fitted to said free blade end of said male terminal means.

2. A switch assembly having a unique interfit of component parts, comprising; an apertured base portion adapted for support such as by a door jamb, compartment frame and the like, a plunger-like actuator means of insulating material at least partially in complementary mating fitwith said base portion though movable reciprocably as to said base portion, a male terminal means having a tree blade end for engagement by female terminal means and having a bifurcated barbed end to straddle said actuator means in tightly-fixed engagement therewith as well as having an offset elbow-shaped contact portion in a location intermediate said blade end and said bifuracted barbed end, and a fiat metal spring means generally L-shaped between opposite ends thereof that fit said actuator means in locations on opposite sides of said bifurcated barbed end of said male terminal means, said metal spring means wholly supporting the com ponent parts both for biasing and alignment thereof into electrical conducting engagement with each other, said ofiset elbow-shaped contact portion in a location intermediate said blade end and said bifurcated barbed end of said male terminal means having predetermined intermittent engagement against one end of said metal spring means for electrical energization between said base portion and female terminal means fitted to said free blade end.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said base portion is a mounting member having integral spring finger-like tabs projecting therefrom and a sleeve-like rivet means directly joins said base portion and one end of said spring means so as to provide both electrical interconnection thereof and a bearing surface for facilitated sliding movement of said actuator means.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said metal spring means has a U-shaped multi-leg loop portion having a 2Q free end engageable and displaceable by a projection from a main body portion of said actuator means recessed to receive and retain interlocking engagement thereto by the bifurcated barbed end of said male terminal means. 5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said metal spring means is bowed laterally away from both said actuator means and male terminal means held in a location intermediate ends of said spring means for biasing, support as well as alignment of the actuator means for proper reciprocal movement through said base portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/31 Kelly 200-159 8/62 Kirk 200-159 X BERNARD A. GI-LHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

1. IN A SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAVING AN UNIQUE INTERFIT OF COMPONENT PARTS INCLUDING AN APERTURED BASE PORTION ADAPTED FOR SUPPORT SUCH AS BY A DOOR JAMB, COMPARTMENT FRAME AND THE LIKE AS WELL AS INCLUDING A PLUNGER-LIKE ACTUATOR MEANS OF INSULATING MATERIAL AT LEAST PARTIALLY IN COMPLEMENTARY MATING FIT WITH SAID BASE PORTION THOUGH MOVABLE RECIPROCABLY AS TO THE BASE PORTION, IMPROVE MENT WHICH COMPRISES A MALE TERMINAL MEANS HAVING A FREE BLADE END FOR ENGAGEMENT BY FEMALE TERMINAL MEANS AND HAVING INTEGRAL THEREWITH A BIFURCATED BARBED END TO STRADDLE THE ACTUATOR MEANS TRANSVERSELY IN TIGHTLY FIXED ENGAGEMENT AT A LOCATION CENTRALLY OF THE ACTUATOR MEANS AS WELL AS HAVING AN OFFSET ELBOW-SHAPED CONTACT PORTION IN A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE SAID BLADE END AND SAID BIFURCATED BARBED END, AND A FLAT METAL SPRING MEANS LOOPED INTO A GENERALLY L-SHAPED CONFIGURATION BETWEEN OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF THAT FIT THE ACTUATOR MEANS IN LOCATIONS AXIALLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BIFURCATED BARBED END OF SAID MALE TERMINAL MEANS, SAID METAL SPRING MEANS HAVING ONE END AGAINST THE BASE PORTION AND HAVING MULTIPLE PURPOSE IN WHOLLY SUPPORTING THE COMPONENT PARTS AS WELL AS BIASING THE ACTUATOR MEANS IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION CARRYING SAID MALE TERMIANL MEANS INCLUDING SAID OFFSET ELBOW-SHAPED CONTACT PORTION AND RESILIENTLY MAINTAINING ALIGNEMENT OF PARTS ASSEMBLED FOR PREDETERMINED INTERMITTENT ENGAGEMENT BY SAID OFFSET ELBOWSHAPED CONTACT PORTION AGAINST ONE END OF SAID METAL SPRING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGIZATION BETWEEN THE BASE PORTION AND FEMALE TERMINAL MEANS FITTED TO SAID FREE BLADE END OF SAID MALE TERMINAL MEANS. 